Submission vs. Surrender — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on October 20, 2023
Submission is yielding to a superior force or authority, while surrender is relinquishing control or possession often after resistance.
Difference Between Submission and Surrender
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Submission often implies a voluntary act, where one gives in or accepts another's authority or will. It can be seen in various contexts, such as in bureaucratic processes where one submits a document, or in social dynamics where one person may show submission to another. Surrender, on the other hand, is more about ceasing resistance and yielding to another's power, often after a struggle or conflict. It's a word commonly associated with battles or disputes.
In submission, the emphasis is on the act of presenting or offering something, like in the submission of an article to a journal. Here, the action is proactive and can be seen as a form of participation or compliance. Surrender carries with it a sense of defeat. For instance, an army might surrender after being overwhelmed, indicating a cessation of resistance.
Another distinction is the nature of the context. Submission can be both formal and informal. You might submit a form, which is a formal act, or submit to someone's wishes informally. Surrender is typically used in more intense situations, often where there's been some form of contention or conflict.
Lastly, while both words convey a sense of yielding or giving in, submission often has a more passive or neutral tone, while surrender implies an active resistance that precedes the act of giving up.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Often voluntary.
Ceasing resistance, often after conflict.
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Context
Both formal and informal.
Typically intense situations.
Tone
Neutral or passive.
Implies prior resistance or struggle.
Action
Presenting or offering something.
Relinquishing control or possession.
Typical Associations
Documents, compliance, social dynamics.
Battles, defeat, disputes.
Compare with Definitions
Submission
A passive acceptance or tolerance.
His submission to the rules was evident.
Surrender
To give up or relinquish control.
The general decided to surrender the fort.
Submission
The condition of being submissive.
The dog's submission was clear when it lowered its head.
Surrender
To cease resistance against an opponent.
After a long standoff, he finally chose to surrender.
Submission
The act of yielding to authority.
She showed her submission by nodding in agreement.
Surrender
To hand over possession.
She had to surrender her passport at the embassy.
Submission
A document or piece presented for review.
The committee reviewed every submission carefully.
Surrender
To give oneself up to emotions or influences.
He surrendered to his feelings of despair.
Submission
The act or fact of submitting to the power of another
An army laying siege to a town to compel its submission.
A dog bowing its head in submission.
Surrender
To relinquish possession or control of (something) to another because of demand or compulsion
Surrendered the city to the enemy.
Submission
The act of submitting something for consideration.
Surrender
To give up in favor of another, especially voluntarily
Surrendered her chair to her grandmother.
Submission
Something so submitted
Read three fiction manuscripts and several other submissions.
Surrender
To give up or abandon
Surrender all hope.
Submission
The act of submitting or yielding; surrender.
Surrender
To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion
Surrendered himself to grief.
Submission
The act of submitting or giving e.g. a completed piece of work.
Any submissions received after Friday will have marks deducted for lateness.
Surrender
(Law) To effectuate a surrender of.
Submission
The thing which has been submitted.
Surrender
To submit to the power of another, especially after resisting; give up.
Submission
A submission hold in wrestling, mixed martial arts, or other combat sports.
Surrender
The act or an instance of surrendering
The general demanded the unconditional surrender of the fort.
Submission
A subset or component of a mission.
Surrender
(Law) The yielding of the possession of an estate to a party with a reversion or remainder interest in the estate, or of a lease to a landlord, prior to the term's expiration.
Submission
The act of submitting; the act of yielding to power or authority; surrender of the person and power to the control or government of another; obedience; compliance.
Submission, dauphin! 't is a mere French word;We English warrious wot not what it means.
Surrender
(transitive) To give up into the power, control, or possession of another.
Submission
The state of being submissive; acknowledgement of inferiority or dependence; humble or suppliant behavior; meekness; resignation.
In all submission and humilityYork doth present himself unto your highness.
No duty in religion is more justly required by God . . . than a perfect submission to his will in all things.
Surrender
To yield (a town, a fortification, etc.) to an enemy.
Submission
Acknowledgement of a fault; confession of error.
Be not as extreme in submissionAs in offense.
Surrender
To give oneself up into the power of another, especially as a prisoner; to submit or give in.
Don't shoot! I surrender!
Submission
An agreement by which parties engage to submit any matter of controversy between them to the decision of arbitrators.
Surrender
(transitive) To give up possession of; to yield; to resign.
To surrender a right, privilege, or advantage
Submission
Something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition);
Several of his submissions were rejected by publishers
What was the date of submission of your proposal?
Surrender
(reflexive) To yield (oneself) to an influence, emotion, passion, etc.
To surrender oneself to grief, to despair, to indolence, or to sleep
Submission
The act of submitting; usually surrendering power to another
Surrender
To abandon (one's hand of cards) and recover half of the initial bet.
Submission
The condition of having submitted to control by someone or something else;
The union was brought into submission
His submission to the will of God
Surrender
For a policyholder, to voluntarily terminate an insurance contract before the end of its term, usually with the expectation of receiving a surrender value.
Submission
The feeling of patient submissive humbleness
Surrender
An act of surrendering, submission into the possession of another; abandonment, resignation.
Submission
A legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
Surrender
The yielding or delivery of a possession in response to a demand.
Submission
An agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
Surrender
The yielding of the leasehold estate by the lessee to the landlord, so that the tenancy for years merges in the reversion and no longer exists.
Submission
(law) a contention presented by a lawyer to a judge or jury as part of the case he is arguing
Surrender
To yield to the power of another; to give or deliver up possession of (anything) upon compulsion or demand; as, to surrender one's person to an enemy or to an officer; to surrender a fort or a ship.
Submission
Presenting something for consideration.
The author's submission was accepted for publication.
Surrender
To give up possession of; to yield; to resign; as, to surrender a right, privilege, or advantage.
To surrender up that right which otherwise their founders might have in them.
Surrender
To yield to any influence, emotion, passion, or power; - used reflexively; as, to surrender one's self to grief, to despair, to indolence, or to sleep.
Surrender
To yield; to render or deliver up; to give up; as, a principal surrendered by his bail, a fugitive from justice by a foreign state, or a particular estate by the tenant thereof to him in remainder or reversion.
Surrender
To give up one's self into the power of another; to yield; as, the enemy, seeing no way of escape, surrendered at the first summons.
Surrender
The act of surrendering; the act of yielding, or resigning one's person, or the possession of something, into the power of another; as, the surrender of a castle to an enemy; the surrender of a right.
That he may secure some liberty he makes a surrender in trust of the whole of it.
Surrender
The yielding of a particular estate to him who has an immediate estate in remainder or reversion.
Surrender
The voluntary cancellation of the legal liability of the company by the insured and beneficiary for a consideration (called the surrender value).
Surrender
Acceptance of despair
Surrender
A verbal act of admitting defeat
Surrender
The delivery of a principal into lawful custody
Surrender
The act of surrendering (under agreed conditions);
They were protected until the capitulation of the fort
Surrender
Give up or agree to forego to the power or possession of another;
The last Taleban fighters finally surrendered
Surrender
Relinquish possession or control over;
The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in
Surrender
Relinquish to the power of another; yield to the control of another
Surrender
The act of yielding or capitulating.
The army's surrender was a turning point in the war.
Common Curiosities
Can submission be a proactive act?
Yes, for instance, when one submits a document for review.
Is surrender always after a conflict?
Often, but not always. One can surrender to emotions without explicit conflict.
Are submission and surrender interchangeable?
No, while both imply yielding, submission is often voluntary, while surrender implies prior resistance.
Is a surrender always a defeat?
Often, but context matters. A tactical surrender might be strategic.
Can submission be an act of strength?
Yes, especially when it's a conscious choice to yield or comply.
Can a person show submission in a relationship?
Yes, if they often yield to the other person's desires.
Can submission have negative connotations?
Yes, if it implies undue subservience or passivity.
In what situations is it common to hear "surrender"?
Battles, emotional contexts, or where there's contention.
Is surrender always physical?
No, one can surrender emotionally or mentally too.
Is surrendering always a sign of weakness?
Not always; it can be a strategic or thoughtful decision.
Can you submit to someone's emotions?
Yes, implying you're yielding to their feelings or wishes.
Can you surrender your rights?
Yes, but typically with a clear understanding of the implications.
Is submission only about yielding?
No, it can also refer to presenting or offering something.
Is a job application a form of submission?
Yes, you're submitting your credentials for review.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
